Why It's Hard to Listen to Japanese Radio Outside Japan

While there are plenty of Japanese radio stations, the issue is that they are often not accessible outside of Japan. Here are the main reasons why:

• Cultural and Regulatory Barriers: Japanese radio is more focused on talk shows than music, and stations are geofenced to specific regions within Japan. For example, someone in Hokkaido can't listen to Osaka radio. Overseas listeners are largely ignored.
• Old-Fashioned Business Practices: The Japanese music industry remains traditional, relying heavily on CD sales and promoting music within Japan. They have not embraced international markets or online streaming. Opening up to overseas distributors is complicated due to long-standing industry connections.
• Strict Copyright Laws: Japanese copyright law makes it difficult for overseas listeners to access content. Any song broadcast must be licensed for domestic use only, making it easier for stations to block all foreign IPs instead of selectively blocking specific songs.

This often results in a frustrating experience for foreign listeners, who encounter messages like "This broadcast is not available in your region." Even Japanese news streams on platforms like YouTube often display similar restrictions.

Conclusion: Japanese radio is heavily geofenced, and without using workarounds like VPNs, it is almost impossible to listen outside Japan. For those of us who like specific stations, it's a real loss.